Reacurring Theme

In The Odyssey, there are many different lessons and themes that are taught and told throughout. One of the themes that is carried throughout the book is to remain loyal to the people you love.

One example in The Odyssey is how Penelope has been waiting for her husband for over 10 years and he has still not shown up, but she still does not remarry. There are suitors at her house every day trying to impress her and become her new husband, but she still waits for Odysseus. She no longer feared the suitors,"But now an inspiration took the discreet Penelope to face her suitors, brutal, reckless men."(page 351 lines 453-454). This quote shows that she was no longer afraid to stand up for herself. she could now face the suitors with confidence.

A second example to stay loyal is when Odysseus slaughters the suitors and the disloyal maids in the hall. He knew they had been disloyal to him so he made them pay. If they had remained loyal to him they wouldn't have been killed. He lets the people who were loyal to him survive,"hes saved you now so you can take it  to heart and tell the next man too: clearly doing good puts the bad to shame."(pages 450-451 lines 395-397). Odysseus lets the singer go because he has remained loyal to him. He also says clearly doing good puts bad to shame, which means it is good you stayed loyal.

A third example is when Odysseus's crew is disloyal to him by going behind his back. This makes Odysseus no longer trust his crew and also lengthens the journey home. "Keep your hands off all these heards or we will pay the price! The cattle, the sleek flocks, belong to an awesome master, Helios, god of sun who sees all, hears all things."(page 281 lines 346-348). If the crew had not eaten the cattle on the island, they would have survived the journey and wouldn't have been punished by Helios. Their mistake leaves Odysseus stranded alone on Calypso's island.